Filling machine



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FILLING MACHINE v l A INVENToR. Jos-PH L. LA wes/vcr,

' BY' I ATTORNEY 35 clutch. governing movement of the piston and ter ofFigure '7 with certain parts broken away 35 55 for the all importantfactor of cleanliness. An 23, and the latter projects inwardly to provide a 65 Patented June 28, 1938 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FmLrNGMACHINE Joseph L. Lawrence, San Francisco, Calif., assgnor to WalterKing, San Francisco, Calif.

Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,857

3 Claims. (Cl. 226-99) This invention relates to lling machines of theexample of this is found in these devices which type which will measurea predetermined quanutilize a valve of considerable area through whichtity of material and discharge the same into a the material must passinto the measuring chamreceptacle. More specifically it is of thesuction ber. In those devices varying quantities of the 5 iiller type inwhich means are provided for drawmaterial are left within the valvemeans at the 5 ing n quantity of material into a measuring cylconclusionoi each individual operation which inrlei1 or chamber and to thereafterdischarge the tends to materially decrease the eiliciency of the sameinto a container. measuring means.

It is an object of this invention to provide a It is believed that theseand other objections device of the class described which will comto theprior art structures are overcome in the 10 pletely discharge allmaterial drawn into the present invention. measuring area and therebyprove self-cleaning. In the drawings forming a part of this specili- Itis another object of the invention to provide cation,

a device of this character which will not only be Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of the lllng self-cleaning but which will cut theiiowgoi the and measuring means forming a part of the sub- 15 materialbeing handled oi sharply at the point of ject matter of this invention,discharge, thus eliminating dripping between Figure 2 is a top plan viewof the whole device positioning of empty receptacles. with the covermeans removed to show the clutch Additional objects of the invention arethe and other control means,

provision of a filling machine which is compact, Figure 3 is a sideelevation of the subject mat- 20 inexpensive to constructA and operate,as well as ter of Figure 2, one which has a desirable minimum of workingFigure 4 is a sectional view along the line I-I DartS- of Figure 2, f

In general. these and other ObleetS to become Figure 5 is a sectionalview along the line 5-5 apparent aS this Specification Proceeds, areatof Figure 1 showing the relation of charge and 25 tained by theProvision 0f B' ller in Which a discharge ports in the oscillatingcylinder and piston is caused to reciprocate in an oscillating theeasing therefor during the discharge of macylinder. The oscillatingcylinder is provided terial,

With Charge and discharge Ports adapted to be Figure 6 is a sectionalview of the subject matalternately brought into registry With oorreterof Figure 5 during the charging of the cylin- 30 spending ports in thecasing surrounding the der with materiel, f cylinder. Figure 7 is asectional view along the line 1-1 Another novel feature of the inventionis the of Figure 2, showing the detail of the clutch, provision of ano-can no-iill" control wherein a Figure 3 is e, top plan view 0f thesubject metoscillation of the cylinder, is adapted to be confor sake ofclarity, trolled by oncoming empty receptacles. In the Figure 9 is anenlarged detail of the eccentric absence of proper introduction of emptyreoepmounting for the connecting rod of the piston, tacles the clutchcontrolis not effected and conend 40 sequently no material is handled bythe device. Figure 101s a fragmentary sectional view, taken 40 Inaddition. I provide novel means for adjustalong the line lu-io-cf Figure1,111ustrating the ment of the stroke of the piston in the cylindereccentric mounting of Figure 9 with the connectgoidetleximidrlie themeasurement of the substance ing rod secured thereto e ng n ed. l I amconversant with many of the llers of this my;runrrleelfalylliirgithcly;gggelomg 45 'smgc;uggculohgemllnnlv oscillatedin a manner presently to be described. by discharge to a container. Itis observed that 'The opter-cylinder I5 is bolted or otherwise se'substantially all, if not all, of the prior art struccured to' thehousing Il provided for a clutch 5o tures leave much to be desired. Oneof the most mechanism and these elements together with 50 seriousobjections seems to be the fact that they conventional Speed reducer 'sand a prime mover are not wholly self-cleaning, e. g.,v they do not I9are Supported Orl a table 2U by the Standdischarge the material down tothe last drop and ard 2|. are therefore inaccurate and they do notprovide Cylinder l5 has a head 22 bolted thereto, aS at bearing 24 forthe oscillated cylinder i5 (see Figure 1).

Charges of the material to be handled are received by the cylinder I6through a top port 25 therein and, in turn, from a source of supplythrough the pipe 26 secured in the extension 21 at the top of thecylinder I5, which has a port 28 `brought into registry with the port 25during oscillation of the cylinder I8 (see Figure 6).

The measured quantities of the material being handled are dischargedthrough the ports 32 and 33 in the cylinders I8 and I 5. respectively,(see Figure 5) as the oscillations of cylinder I6 bring the two intoregistry. It will be noted from Figure 1 that ports 32 and 33 take theform of elongated slots. It has been found that by the provision ofports of -this character the accurate and complete discharge ofmaterials is greatly facilitated.

The measurement of materials within cylinder I8 is caused upon operationofthe piston 35 therein. This piston has a connecting rod 36 which isadjustably connected to the eccentric drive, illustrated to bestadvantage in Figures 1, 9 and 10, by means of an enlarged elongated loop31.

A frame 48 secured at right angles to the end of shaft 4l in anyconventional manner, is provided with a T-shaped slot 42 to receive ablock 43.

A bolt 44, secured thereto, projects outwardly through the slot 45 inthe plane of the shaft 4I. Since bolt 44 serves as a stub shaft forconnecting rod 36, and adjustable eccentric drive thereof is desirable,the following means is provided for adjustment of the block 43 in slot42. Bolt ,48 has a shoulder 46a received by a bore (shown in dottedlines in Figure 9) in the bottom of frame 48. The shoulder 46a has anannular groove 41 which is engaged by a pin 48 through frame 48. Thusbolt 42 is retained against longitudinal movement but left free forturning. Since bolt 82 has a threaded connection with block 48, it willbe seen that by turning its conventional head, block 43 will be moved inframe 80 with respect to the axis of shaft 4| to readjust the eccentricdrive.

A sleeve bearing 55 on bolt 44 has a shoulder 88 set flush with the faceof the frame 48, and is adapted to be retained by a nut 51, and a commonwasher, on bolt 44.

The connection of the connecting rod to the mechanism just described iseffected through the provision of a sleeve bearing 58 on sleeve bearing55. A rim or shoulder 59 on bearing 58 engages one side of the loop 31of the rod 36 and the opposite side is engaged by a common washer and aring nut 80.

It will thus be seen that the loop 31 and its bearing member 58 are freeto be driven by rotation of shaft 4I and the eccentrically mounted stubshaft or bolt 4i to reciprocate the piston 35.

The clutch about t0 be described is of the onecycle type. That is onecomplete cycle thereof effects the charging of cylinder I8 and thedischarge of material therefrom. As heretofore pointed out, it isdesirable in devices of this class that some provision be made toprevent discharge of the material being handled in the absence of a canto receive the charge. It was with this factor in mind that the novelclutch control means forming a part of the subject matter of thisinvention was devised.

It will be noted that shaft 4i is journaled in suitable bearings 65 and66 in post 61 (see Figure 3) and the housing head 88, respectively.

A gear 'I0 and a clutch plate 'Il integral therewith, are free on shaft4I. Gear 19 engages a gear 12 mounted on shaft 13, which in turn, isrotated by its connection to the reducing gear I8 and the prime mover I9. Thus, while the running of the prime mover I9 (here shown to be anelectric motor) is constant, it will be understood that gear 10 and theintegral clutch plate 1I are merely idling on shaft 4i subject toengagement of the clutch.

A second clutch plate 14 is pinned to the shaft 4I, as at 15, andengagement of the two clutch plates is effected in the following manner:Clutch plate 1I has a pin 18 wedged therein with a beveled end 11projecting in the path of the pin 18, ln the bore 89 in clutch plate 14,and having a similar beveled end 19. TheI pin 18 is provided with a.spring 80, in its bore 8l, with which it is adapted to telescope. Thefunction of spring is to urge the pin outwardly into engagement with pin16 in clutch plate 1I. This movement is limited by means of a pin 82 ina slot 83 in the said pin (see Figures 7 and 8).

'I'he clutch thus comprised is effectively controlled by means of afinger 85, on shaft 86, which rides in a slot 81 in clutch plate 14 toengage pin 18. As will be noted from Figureu8, pin 18 is provided withan angular slot 88 between its beveled face 19 and the slot 83. 'Iheslot 88 consists in a cut made at a 45 angle terminating in a transversecut in the pin 18. Thus when finge;` 85 is riding in the slot 81 andcomes into engagement with the angular slot or groove 88, pin 18 ismoved against the tension of the spring 88 into the clutch plate 14 andout of engagement with the complementary pin 16 in clutch plate 1l.

The movement of finger B5 and hence control of the clutch mechanism isgoverned by the introduction of cans into the filling areal and thisconstitutes the no-can no-iill feature of the apparatus. A star wheel 98is disposed beneath the housing I1 with its arms projecting into thelling area for engagement by cans 9| on conveyor 92. "'I'he star wheel90 is pinned to a shaft' projecting through the dependent member 93 onhousing i1, and to the other end of which shaft a collar member 94 issecured inside of the housing i1 (see Figures 1 and 3). The collar 94 inthe present adaptation of the invention, has three grooves 95 in itsupper face, corresponding to the number of arms on the star wheel 90,for engagement with a pin 91 in the link 98 which is secured to shaft88.

The said shaft 88 is journaled in the post 81 and a second post 99, andthe said link 98 is secured to that end of the shaft which projectsbeyond post 81.

As pin 91 is normally in one of the grooves 88 in the top of collar 94,flnger 85 fixed on shaft 88 is held in engagement with pin 18 and theclutch is thus retained in disengaged position. When a can, 9i, movingalong on conveyor 82, contacts one of the arms of the star wheel 98,collar 94 is turned against pin 91 and the latter is forced out of thegroove 95 and up on the flat top surface of the collar 94. Through lever98 shaft 86 is partially turned and finger 88 is moved out of engagementwith pin 18. Spring 88 thereupon urges pin 18 into engagement with thecomplementary pin 16 and the clutch is engaged for its one cycle. Thepin 91 moves over the fiat top surface of collar 94 to the next groove85 and when it drops into the same, finger 85 is caused to move backinto slot 81 for I is as follows: When .have been made to 'through themedium of the linkage shown to best advantage in Figures 2 and 4. 'Hereit will be noted that the cylinder I6 has a collar or -flange |05, atits inner end, which is provided with a projection |06 for engagementwith a link |01. The link |01 is pivotally connected with a link |08fastened on one end of the stub shaft |09 suitably journaled in thebottom of housing I1 as at |||l. At the opposite end of the shaft |09 Iprovide upstanding arm having a roller ||2 disposed at right anglesthereto to ride in the cam slot ||3 in clutch plate 14. Due to the shapeof the cam slot |3 (see Figures 2, 7 and 8) it will be appreciated thatwhen the clutch is engaged and plate 14 revolves with shaft 4|, arm ismoved t0 the left (looking at Figure 4) and, through the linkage justdescribed, cylinder I6 is partially turned in a counter-clockwisedirection (looking at Figure 5) to bring port 25 into registry with port28 in cylinder I5 (see Figure 6). The movement of roller ||2 in slot ||3is such that these ports remain in registry suiilciently long enough topermit a full charge of the material being handled to be drawn intocylinder I5. As the cycle of the clutch is completed, cylinder I6 isturned back to its original position (see Figure 5) to close port 28 andto bring ports 32 and 33 into registry for the discharge stroke ofpiston 35, in which position it remains between cycles of the clutch.

' It will be appreciated from the foregoing description and Figure 1 ofthe drawings that in order to adjust the mechanism to handle differentquantities of material, only readjustment of the connections betweenconnecting rod 36 and shaft 4| is necessary. In other words, the lengthof the charge stroke of piston 35 in cylinder I6 is the determiningfactor.

As previously stated, by turning the head of bolt 45, block 43 in frame40 is caused to move with respect to shaft 4|, and thus the off-centeradjustment of the stub-shaft 44 is effected. In this manner the lengthof the stroke of piston 35 in cylinder I6 is determined. It is to beunderstood that in making the adjustment it is necessary to first loosennut 51 on stub shaft 44, to the end that block 43 will be free to movein frame 40 upon the turning of the head of bolt 45. By the same tokenwhen the desired eccentric position of stub shaft 44 has beendetermined, nut 51 is tightened to lock the block 43in position.

In order to carry out the self-cleaning principle of the invention, itislalso necessary to adjust for a full stroke of piston 35 against thecylinder head 22. By loosening nut 60, binding loop 81 of connecting rod35 to the bearing member 58, piston 35 is free to be adjusted againstcylinder head 22. In this adjustment only suflicient clearance isprovided to prevent the piston 35 striking the head 22.

The operation of the apparatus thus described the preliminaryadjustments determine the length of the stroke of the piston 35, e. g.,the measurement of the material to be handled, pipe 26 is placed incommunication with a source of supply of the material to be handled andconveyor 92, for cans 9|, is started. As the cans 9| progress andindividually engage the arms of the star wheel 90 the latter is turnedto raise pin 91 out of engagement with grooves 95 on the top of collar94. Pin 91 moves over the iiat surface of the top of collar 94 towardthe next succeeding groove 95. Finger 85, through link 98 and shaft 85,is thus caused to move out of engagement with pin 18, allowing spring tourge the same into engagement with the complementary pin 1B. The clutchis thus engaged for its one cycle movement.

As shaft 4| is caused to rotate upon engagement of the clutch piston 35is withdrawn from the head of cylinder I6 while simultaneously the camaction of slot ||3 on roller ||2 has, through the described linkage,caused cylinder |6 to oscillate about piston 35 to bring the intake port25 into registry with port 28 in cylinder I5. As piston 35 continues itsmovement a charge of the material is sucked into cylinder |6. At themoment piston 35 has been withdrawn its full stroke away from the head22 of cylinder I6 the cam slot ||3 will cause further oscillation ofcylinder |6 to close port 25 and swing ports 32 and 33 into 'registryfor the discharge stroke of piston 35. Said piston 35 is thereupondriven the full length of cylinder i6, forcing the material within thecylinder through the ports 32 and 33 into the positioned can 9|.

At the precise moment piston 35 reaches the head 22 of cylinder I6, pin91 has dropped into the next succeeding groove 95 in collar 94 andfinger has once again engaged pin 18 to urge the same out of engagementwith pin 16, and against the urge of spring 80, thus disengagingtheclutch.

It will thus be understood that in the absence of a can there will be nohandling of the particular material and that the same will remain in itssource of supply and the conduit therefrom, en.

tirely outside of the mechanism forming the subject matter of thisinvention. In this way possible contamination of the substance beinghandled is greatly minimized and unnecessary wear on the apparatus isobviated.

As hereinbefore stated, one of the particular advantages of the presentinvention lies in the fact that the measuring cylinder I6 is completelyself-cleaning and that no material remains therein from one filling tothe next. This is a highly desirable factor when consideration is givento the fact that machines of this character frequently handle ediblesubstances and other materials which have a highly corrosive effect onequipment of this sort.

It is to be appreciated and understood that in the drawings forming apart of this application I have illustrated and described but one formof the invention and while that is the preferred form, the principles ofthe invention are applicable to. many other variations and modificationsVwithout departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure bygrant of Letters Patent is:

1. In a filling device, the combination of a housing for a cylinder, acylinder therein, said housing and said cylinder having intake anddischarge ports adapted to be alternately brought into registry uponoscillation of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means forreciprocating the piston to successively charge and discharge materialfrom the cylinder, a clutch for said reciprocating means including twoelements engageable by yieldable means, control means for said clutchcomprising a receptacle actuated member on a shaft, a collar having aplurality of aiaasa grooves on the opposite end of said shaft, a secondshaft at -right angles to the first, a link xed at the end of the secondshaft adjacent said collar, a pin on said link normally disposed in oneof said grooves in said collar, a finger fixed on the second named shaftat the end opposite to the link and acting upon said yieldable means insaid clutch to normally disengage the same when said pin is in one ofsaid grooves on said collar but retractable upon movement of saidreceptacle actuated member and the raising of said pin to the normalplane of said collar.

2. In a filling device of the type in which a piston is reciprocatedwithin a cylinder to successively draw and discharge a quantity'ofAmaterial, means for reciprocating the piston comprising the combinationof a shaft, a slotted frame mounted on the end thereof, a block in saidframe having a stub shaft projecting through the slot in a. planeparallel to the axis ofsaid shaft, a sleeve fixed on said stub shaft, apiston rod having an elongated slot in the end thereof, a bearing memberfor the sleeve on the stub shaft fixed in the slot in said piston rod.

3. In a filling device of the type in which a piston is reciprocatedwithin a cylinder to successively draw and discharge a quantity ofmaterial, adjustable means for reciprocating the piston comprising thecombination of a shaft, a slotted frame mounted on the end thereof, ablock in said frame having a stub shaft projecting through the slot in aplane parallel to the axis of said first named shaft, means fordetermining the position of said block in said frame with respect to therst named shaft, a sleeve fixed on said stub shaft, a piston rod havingan elongated slot in the end thereof, said piston rod being operativelyconnected to said shaft by a bearing member in said slut and disposed onsaid sleeve, and retainer means fixing the position of said bearingmember in said slot.

JOSEPH L. LAWRENCE.

